Gaura plant named ‘Dogaurgrabl’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Gaura plant named ‘Dogaurgrabl’, characterized by its compact and upright plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate; freely branching habit; freely flowering habit; white-colored flowers with light pink-colored apices; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Gaura lindheimeri.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DOGAURGRABL’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR & APPLICANT/ASSIGNEE

An European Community Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instantplant was filed by the Applicant/Assignee, Dümmen Group B.V. of De Lier,The Netherlands on Feb. 4, 2022, application number 2022/0383. Foreignpriority is not claimed to this application.

The Inventor and Applicant/Assignee assert that no publications noradvertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distributionoccurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of thisapplication. Any information about the claimed plant would have beenobtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor and/orApplicant/Assignee. Inventor and Applicant/Assignee claim a prior artexception under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior tothe filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filingdate.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Gauraplant, botanically known as Gaura lindheimeri and hereinafter referredto by the name ‘Dogaurgrabl’.

The new Gaura is a product of a planned breeding program conducted bythe Inventor in Aalsmeer, The Netherlands. The objective of the breedingprogram is to create new compact and early-flowering Gaura plants withattractive leaf and flower coloration.

The new Gaura plant originated from a cross-pollination in June, 2016 inAalsmeer, The Netherlands of a proprietary selection of Gauralindheimeri identified as code number GR14-000046-006, not patented, asthe female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Gauralindheimeri identified as code number GR14-000012-001, not patented, asthe male, or pollen, parent. The new Gaura plant was discovered andselected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within theprogeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment inAalsmeer, The Netherlands in June, 2017.

Asexual reproduction of the new Gaura plant by vegetative tip cuttingsin a controlled environment in Aalsmeer, The Netherlands since July,2017 has shown that the unique features of this new Gaura plant arestable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Gaura have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Dogaurgrabl’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Dogaurgrabl’ as a new and distinct Gaura plant:

-   -   1. Compact and upright plant habit.    -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate.    -   3. Freely branching habit.    -   4. Freely flowering habit.    -   5. White-colored flowers with light pink-colored apices.    -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Gaura can be compared to plants of the female parentselection. Plants of the new Gaura differ from plants of the femaleparent selection in flower color as plants of the new Gaura havewhite-colored flowers with light pink-colored apices whereas plants ofthe female parent selection have pure white-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Gaura can be compared to plants of the male parentselection. Plants of the new Gaura differ from plants of the male parentselection in flower color as plants of the new Gaura have white-coloredflowers with light pink-colored apices whereas plants of the male parentselection have pure white-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Gaura can be compared to plants of Gaura lindheimeri‘Belezza White’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants ofthe new Gaura differ from plants of ‘Belezza White’ in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Gaura are more compact than and not as tall        as plants of ‘Belezza White’.    -   2. Plants of the new Gaura have white-colored flowers with light        pink-colored apices whereas plants of ‘Belezza White’ have pure        white-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Gaura can also be compared to plants of Gauralindheimeri ‘Gaudi Red’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons,plants of the new Gaura differ from plants of ‘Gaudi Red’ in thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Gaura have green-colored leaves whereas        plants of ‘Gaudi Red’ have reddish-colored leaves.    -   2. Plants of the new Gaura have white-colored flowers with light        pink-colored apices whereas plants of ‘Gaudi Red’ have dark        reddish pink-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new Gaura plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Gaura plant.

The photograph is a side perspective view of a typical plant of‘Dogaurgrabl’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown during the autumn in 17-cm containersin an outdoor nursery in Aalsmeer, The Netherlands and under culturalpractices typical of commercial Gaura production. During the productionof the plants, day temperatures averaged 21° C. and night temperaturesaveraged 15° C. Plants were pinched one time one week after planting andwere 24 weeks old when the photograph and description were taken. In thefollowing description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, Fifth Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Gaura lindheimeri ‘Dogaurgrabl’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Gaura            lindheimeri identified as code number GR14-000046-006, not            patented.        -   Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of Gaura            lindheimeri identified as code number GR14-000012-001, not            patented. PROPAGATION:        -   Type.—By vegetative tip cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About ten days at            temperatures about 26° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About two weeks at            temperatures about 23° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About twelve            days at temperatures about 23° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 16 days            at temperatures about 18° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically            white to light yellow in color, actual color of the roots is            dependent on substrate composition, water quality,            fertilizer type and formulation, substrate temperature and            physiological age of roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial; compact and            upright plant habit; freely basal branching habit with about            six primary branches each with about ten secondary branches            developing per plant, pinching enhances lateral branch            development; dense and bushy plant form; moderately vigorous            growth habit and moderate growth rate.        -   Plant height.—About 38 cm.        -   Plant diameter.—About 26 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Length.—About 30 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 2 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 1 cm.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Aspect.—Upright to about 60° from vertical.        -   Texture and luster.—Pubescent; semi-glossy.        -   Color, developing.—Close to 143A.        -   Color, developed.—Close to NN137A; if woody, close to 199A.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple; sessile.        -   Length.—About 5 cm.        -   Width.—About 1.2 cm.        -   Shape.—Linear.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Sparsely            pubescent; semi-glossy.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper and lower surfaces: Close to            NN137A. Fully developed leaves, upper surface: Close to            NN137A; venation, close to 144A. Fully developed leaves,            lower surface: Close to NN137C; venation, close to 144A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Single flowers arranged on            terminal and axillary racemes; freely flowering habit with            about nine flowers per inflorescence and about 1,092 flowers            developing per plant during the flowering season; flowers            face mostly outwardly.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower continuously from            July to September in The Netherlands; plants begin flowering            about eleven weeks after planting; flowers not persistent.        -   Inflorescence height.—About 17 cm.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 5 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—About 2.5 cm by 2.8 cm.        -   Flower depth (height).—About 1.3 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Shape: Elongated oblong. Texture and luster: Smooth,            glabrous; matte. Color: Close to NN155D.        -   Petals.—Arrangement: Four in a single whorl. Length: About            1.4 cm. Width: About 6 mm. Shape: Oblanceolate. Apex: Acute.            Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper            and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: When            opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to NN155D. Fully            opened, upper surface: Close to NN155D; apices, close to            65C; venation, close to NN155D; color becoming closer to 65A            with subsequent development. Fully opened, lower surface:            Close to NN155D; apices, close to 65B; venation, close to            NN155D; color becoming closer to 64A with subsequent            development.        -   Sepals.—Arrangement: Four in a single whorl. Length: About            1.3 cm. Width: About 2 mm. Shape: Linear. Apex: Acute. Base:            Truncate. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper surface:            Pubescent; semi-glossy. Texture and luster, lower surface:            Smooth, glabrous; semi- glossy. Color, upper and lower            surfaces: Close to 144C with apices, close to 181A.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm.            Strength: Flexible. Aspect: About 40° from stem axis.            Texture and luster: Pubescent; glossy. Color: Close to 143B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Eight per flower.            Filament length: About 8 mm. Filament color: Close to            NN155D. Anther shape: Linear; basifixed. Anther size: About            0.5 mm by 3 mm. Anther color: Close to 187A. Pollen amount:            Abundant. Pollen color: Close to 4B. Pistils: Quantity: One            per flower. Pistil length: About 1.2 cm. Style length: About            1.1 cm. Style color: Close to NN155D. Stigma shape:            Four-lobed. Stigma diameter: About 1 mm. Stigma color: Close            to 154B. Ovary color: Close to 53A. Fruits: Length: About            8 mm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous.            Color: Close to 141A.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Gaura have been observed to    have good garden performance and tolerate wind, rain and    temperatures ranging from about −23° C. to about 35° C. and to be    suitable for U.S.D.A. Hardiness Zones 6 to 10.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Gaura have    not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to    Gaura plants.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Gaura plant named ‘Dogaurgrabl’ asillustrated and described.